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Weed characteristics
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Management issues
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Rhizomes, stolons and runners: Underground stems that produce stem and root growths. 
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Tools and machinery used in cultivation cut through the underground stems and encourage the development of more plants and can spread it through an area. |
| Taproot or root pieces. |
Cut up pieces of root are spread by cultivation. |
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Corms, bulbs and tubers.
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Removing top parts will not control, unless it eventually exhausts energy supply (persistent mowing). Cultivation spreads it. |
| Stems nodes produce roots when they contact soil. |
Difficult to control as every piece of plant must be removed or exhausted, or it will form a plant. |
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Suckers which can be produced from adventitious buds, below ground stems or by roots.
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Damaging roots promotes suckering. Continual mowing will control. |
| Seed only. |
Control is possible before they flower and set seed. |
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Prostrate growth weeds grow flat along the ground.
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Escapes the mower blades. |
| Weeds which grow in an upright habit. |
Control by mowing or slashing is possible.
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Weeds in soil and media, particularly weeds in nurseries.
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Sterilising, heat treatment and cultivation is possible once weeds germinate. |
| Weeds in seed batches. |
Seeds of similar size and appearance often get mixed up with seed batches. |
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Seed bank in soil: seeds with a durable coating.
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Many seeds are able to survive long periods in the soil and germination is triggered with favourable light, heat or water conditions. Cultivation will bring up these seedlings. |
| By wind - some seeds have a papus for wind dispersal. |
Infestation from elsewhere is possible, even if you manage to control all of your weeds.
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